Paris, Je t'aime (I think)

So I've been here for 3 days and I am already starting to fall in love with the city. Not only is it beautiful, but it's so easy to get around. I have a Navigo pass which allows me to use the metro, trams, RER and buses whenever I want. Although I love the metro, I've had some problems with the public transportation. For example, today my roommate and I were trying to get home from the southern most part of the 14th arrondissement. The 2 places are extremely far apart (compared to the rest of paris). We decided to take the RER, a faster train/metro with fewer stops. We didnt know, however, that there were 3 different trains at one stop. Of course, we got on the wrong train, got off, got on another wrong train, then finally figured out where we needed to go and then got on the right train. It was confusing and annoying, but pretty fun because we got to see more of Paris.
Another thing I don't like very much is that you can't see the sunset. I guess that's something that I've taken for granted but I miss it! The tall appartment complexes and buildings make the streets dark around 6. Even though I can't watch the sunset I still love walking down the shadowed streets.
Something else about Paris that no one told me was that contrary to it being fall, it is super hot. Everyone is wearing SHORTS and SANDALS. (I write these in all capitals because my dear Auntie Val would not let me pack these items. And I quote "Oh, no, it will be much too cold! NO ONE wears shorts! Or sandals! No way! They are much too stylish" Au contraire, Auntie, au contraire.). Hopefully the real fall will kick in soon. And by hopefully, I really mean I hope it will stay this warm until I leave. (Global Warming may have its advantages)
A lot has happened in the past couple days, mostly more orientation meetings. I have so much information about Paris, now I just have to go use it.
Yesterday we did the Bateaux Mouches, a cruise of the seine. Bateaux Mouche means "Fly Boat", and I definitely felt like I was surrounded by flies or some sort of insect species. There were so many tourists the cruise felt like a moving insect colony. People repeatedly would stand up and take 500 pictures of the same monument/bridge/statue/homeless person. Some people were ever video taping. I just wanted to ask them if they were ever going to watch the video again, or just store it in their closet of vacation tapes? Also, there were so many people having their picture taken by themselves. Not even smiling, just kind of grimacing, like even they knew how awkward it would turn out. But even with all the tourists, it was beautiful.
This morning Carolina and I slept through our alarm. Ooops. Usually we've been waking up at 4 or 5 in the morning so I think we didn't expect to actually sleep in. This morning we had to take a placement test to see what level of french we are in and we showed up 2 hours late.... Luckily since there were so many people it didn't matter.
Then all 40 of us went to the Resto U, a big cafeteria in Paris strictly for students. The food was surprisingly good, for 2 euro you can get a full meal. There were so many people it was quite overwhelming but I guess thats just something Ill have to get used to.
We then walked around Luxembourg Gardens which are really close to our school. We watched the little kids push toy boats around the pond with bamboo sticks and tried to listen to them to try and learn more french. Unsuccessful, but still fun. The pond was also filled with ducks and I did understand one mother tell her son "No, you cannot take the duck home". I sympathized with him.
Tonight we helped Amelie study for her English test she has tomorrow. Not only is she learning English, but also Spanish and latin. She showed us her English notebook and her writing is perfectly linear and straight. She said that at the end of the year the teachers give them a grade for their notebooks based on neatness. It was intensely neat.
That's it for now, I will attempt to upload pictures tomorrow. I miss you all!